CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (January 28, 2023) – Washington State captured the opening doubles point and was deep into the third set in three matches but it was Northwestern that came away with a 4-1 victory over the Cougars Saturday evening in the consolation match of the 2023 ITA Kickoff Weekend at Boar's Head Tennis Club.
 
With the loss, the Cougars fall to 2-02 on the season while Northwestern improves to 3-1.
 
In doubles action, WSU's Elyse Tse and Yang Lee pushed the Cougars' out early as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead en route to a 6-3 win at No. 2 over Briana Crowley and Sydney Pratt. Northwestern got a win back at No. 3 when Kiley Rabjohns and Maria Shusharina defeated Yura Nakagawa and Fifa Kumhom, 6-4, pushing the deciding point to Court 1. On Court 1, WSU's Maxine Murphy and Eva Alvarez Sande led 4-2 before Northwestern's duo of Justine Leong and Christina Hand rallied for three-straight games to take a 5-4 lead. Following a Murphy service hold, the Cougar duo broke one final time to secure the opening doubles point.
 
During singles play, Northwestern struck first as Rabjohns came away with a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 6 over Stefaniia Mikhailova, evening the match at 1-1. The Wildcats took their first lead when Hand, ranked No. 54 nationally, completed a 6-2, 6-2, win over Alvarez Sande on Court 2.
 
Northwestern extended its lead to 3-1 as Leong finished a 6-4, 6-2 win over Tse at No. 4, pushing the Wildcats to withing one match of victory. With the final three matches in the third set, it was Crowley at No. 5 that found the clincher for Northwestern, defeating Kumhom 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-2.
 
The two remaining matches on court were stopped, with Murphy down a break at No. 1 to Shusharina, 3-6, 7-5, 2-4, while Nakagawa was up a break on Court 3 against Pratt, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-1.
 
The Cougars are next in action Saturday, Feb. 4, when they travel to Utah to face BYU. Match time is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT.
 
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
Northwestern 4 def. Washington State 1
January 28, 2023
Boar's Head Tennis Club
Charlottesville, Va.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 Maxine Murphy/Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) def. Justine Leong/Christina Hand (NW) 7-5
No. 2 Elyse Tse/Yang Lee (WSU) def. Briana Crowley/Sydney Pratt (NW) 6-3
No. 3 Kiley Rabjohns/Maria Shusharina (NW) def. Yura Nakagawa/Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
 
SINGLES
No. 1 Maxine Murphy (WSU) vs. Maria Shusharina (NW) 3-6, 7-5, 2-4 DNF
No. 2 #54 Christina Hand (NW) def. Eva Alvarez Sande (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Yura Nakagawa (WSU) vs. Sydney Pratt (NW) 7-6 (6), 4-6, 3-1 DNF
No. 4 Justine Leong (NW) def. Elyse Tse (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 Briana Crowley (NW) def. Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Kiley Rabjohns (NW) def. Stefaniia Mikhailova (WSU) 6-4, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6,2,4,5